ANAHEIM, Calif. _ Just when it seemed like nothing could distract the Los Angeles Angels from their fantasy football teams Sunday morning, Matt Shoemaker walked through the clubhouse.
It wasn't Shoemaker's first time back since a 105-mph line drive fractured his skull two weeks ago. The pitcher stopped by Angel Stadium a few times during this 10-game homestand, when his head felt normal and he wanted to get out of the house.
But any Shoemaker sighting these days incites cheery hellos from his coaches and teammates.
"The guys are great. It's just welcoming, happy to see me," Shoemaker said before the Angels beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 4-0, on Sunday. "I'm sometimes at home going crazy, haven't been able to be up here too much. It's good."
On Sept. 4, Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager hit a line drive that connected with the right side of Shoemaker's head. A CT scan revealed a small skull fracture and a hematoma. He underwent brain surgery that night in Seattle after a third CT scan showed the bleeding had not stopped.
Now Shoemaker is resting at home _ when he's not chasing around his 1-year-old son Brady _ and is expecting to be at the park every day when the Angels return from their seven-game trip.
"Great to see Shoe. ... He's just healing up nicely and I know he's excited and anxious to get back in some physical drills and start to throw again. That won't happen until the off-season, but he's ready," manager Mike Scioscia said.
Shoemaker, who is 9-13 with a 3.88 earned-run average, hasn't thought too much about pitching. He has received support from players who have suffered similar injuries and said that Seager has texted him every other day to check in.
The time away from the field has left him restless at times, but Shoemaker's focus is on properly healing. He is not sure whether he will be allowed to watch from the dugout when he returns to the park, or when his rehabilitation plan will be nailed down.
There are only two things Shoemaker can do as the Angels hit the last leg of their season: Get follow-up scans and wait.
"It's only been two weeks so far," Shoemaker said. "I want to be here, but I get it."
